Do You Know What to Do in an Emergency?

Following a major disaster, first responders who provide fire and medical services will not be able to meet all the demand for these services. Factors such as number of victims, communication failures and road blockages will prevent people from accessing emergency services they have come to expect at a moment's notice through 911. People will have to rely on each other for help in order to meet their immediate life saving and life sustaining needs. Individual preparedness, as well as the ability to safely and effectively assist others, allows members of the community to care for themselves until more help arrives.

The Community Emergency Response Team – CERT- program educates people about disaster preparedness for emergencies that may impact their area and trains them in basic disaster response skills. These groups can provide immediate assistance to victims in their area and assist professional responders with prioritization and allocation of resources following a disaster.